Two Firms Recall Ready-to-Eat Duck for Salmonella

Two separate firms have recalled Ready-to-Eat Duck over concerns that the products are potentially contaminated with the dangerous Salmonella pathogen, the U.S. Department of Agricultureâ€™s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced.

The recalls have both been deemed Class I, which means that, in both cases, there exists a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of the recalled product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or who are undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS’ website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

Through routine testing on July 12, 2011, FSIS found a sample of smoked duck breast product, imported from Canadian establishment number 377, Charcuterie Parisienne, to be positive for the Salmonella bacteria. The initial product represented by that sample is on hold, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency notified FSIS that additional product represented by the positive sample had been shipped to Sid Wainer & Son, Inc. and Palmex, Inc.

In both cases shipping containers of “MAGRET DE CANARD FUME SECHE DRIED SMOKED DUCK BREAST PRODUIT DU CANADA\PRODUCT OF CANADA” are involved. Each container holds six individually wrapped pieces of the duck breast product, weighing an average of .66 pounds each. Each package bears a label with the establishment number “CANADA 377″ inside the Canadian mark of inspection. Packages can be identified by code lot number “111217,” package code “11JN20,” and best before date “11DE17.” The products subject to recall were produced on June 20, 2011,
Sid Weiner & Son, Inc., New Bedford, Massachusetts
This recall is for about 137 pounds of imported, ready-to-eat, smoked duck breast products distributed for institutional use in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. The firm can be reached via Tom Furtado at 1.508.999.6408, extension 191.

Palmex, Inc., Champlain, New York
This recall is for approximately 197 pounds of imported, ready-to-eat, smoked duck breast products that were sent to distribution centers in California and the Dominican Republic. The firmâ€™s president Benoit Cuchet, can be reached at 1.450.460.2107.